Re: Wurzel
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 8:20 pm
Perham Down 21-07-2020
I’d made a few trips to Shipton hoping to pick up an early Brostreak what with seeing reports from Sussex and Dorset that they were already out. However I’d drawn a blank on my visits but I had picked up some useful information about a Wiltshire site for Silver Spotted Skippers so today I set forth looking for them rather than the reticent Brostreaks. The new site was just the other side of Tidworth and it felt slightly odd driving past ‘Range F’ and not pulling in as I continued on my way there diligently following the Satnav.
At the first stop that I made I didn’t hang around as there were a load of Squaddies hiding in a barn so I didn’t want to draw attention to them hence I drove parked up at the foot of the down at the start of the ranges rather than in the middle. The track from the car was lined by Blackthorn and Hawthorn (I was thinking about Brostreaks?) and on one side there was a mature wood (Purps) and on the other a flat meadow which I strolled through to reach the foot of the down. As to be expected Meadow Browns flew up from the grasses along with a few Marbled Whites and DGFs. Hedgies made forays from the hedges and a Common Blue flitted from flower to flower in the lower level grasses along the path. Slightly unexpected but still a welcome sight was a second brood Dingy Skipper. The ground started to slope gently as I reached the foot of the down and I paused in a sheltered little spot as there seemed to be a lot going on amid the springy turf. I spotted a couple of male Common Blues having a scrap that was dizzying to watch. A Holly Blue briefly drifted down from up on high and another second brood Dingy entertained me for a bit. Then there was a lime green and gold blur. I found myself willing it to settle under my breath as I stood stock still for fear of spooking it. It ceased its buzzing and dropped, flopping down and starting to nectar. As it did so it revealed an array of white spots standing out from the lime green background. It was a Silver Spot, so job done and I hadn’t even gotten to the main spot of the site! After I’d picked up a few shots it zipped off and I tried to follow it until it eventually decided to stop toying with me and with a sudden jink to the left it just vanished. I didn’t really mind as during ‘the chase’ somehow I’d made it three quarters of the way up the steep side of the down without even noticing it! So I kept on climbing and once at the top I turned to look back across the view where I caught sight of plenty of Meadow Browns and Hedgies, a Common Blue and a DGF instead. They were all hanging out around a stretch of Bramble that lined the top of the down like a bad comb over. On along the top a clattering of Jackdaws put on an aerial display whilst the breeze tugged at my hat brim – not a good sign. So it proved to be as when I spotted my second Silver Spot the wind wrenched it away from beneath my lens not to be seen again! The breeze was starting to become somewhat of an annoyance by the time I’d reached the end of the Down. Luckily as the down tapered off gently into the surrounding fields of Oilseed Rape and wheat the thin wisps of shrubbery began to thicken and with this increased shelter the temperatures started to climb along with my opportunities for photography. Before examining the micro clearings between the thorns I checked out the demarking track way which snaked around the bottom of the down. The fact that it was a blinding white chalk track helped to highlight the contrast between the wildflowers of the down and the manicured and highly stylised topography of the cultivated land. A few scraggly plants were cling on, trying to reclaim their territory and on these a few Meadow Browns and Smessex sought succour whilst a Small Copper dazzled more than the chalk. From the bottom corner I stepped back onto the Down and worked through some of the little clearings. Again Meadow Browns abounded whilst the Hedgies held sway on the thickets and bushes. Both Peacock and Red Admiral added flashes of colour but the real reason I remained here were two Silver Spots which seemed to take it in turns to sit for me. They were in really good nick and the spots really stood out – that is when they sat in the ‘perfect pose’. Most of the time however they’d sit ¾ open like X-Wings caught half way between hyperspace and attack configurations. I didn’t mind though as this meant that I could capture the large, metallic sex brand on film; looking like a discarded strand of steel. As this was a new site I decided that I should have a look around and so I set out back to the range that I’d started at – this time though unlike the way out I worked back at about half way up the slope…on average to be honest as there was plenty of walking up and down the slope after this butterfly and that. There were another two Silver Spots and a few DGFs as well as my first Small Heath of the day. Once at the range I cut back across the top to what shall hence forth be known as the ‘Hotspot’ picking up another Silver Spot and making the most of its amicable demeanour on the way. By now it was getting ‘Mighty W’ as my dad always says and so I worked through the thickets to the foot of the Down on the ranges side and through a field of Bird’s Foot Trefoil, a Common Blues heaven as the usual green of grass was replaced with a sea of vivid custard yellow. Still dazzled by the sight I stumbled diagonally back up the Down where the Hedgies were still in great abundance, it seemed that almost every bush or piece of scrub was covered in them almost as if a crate had been upended . In amongst the smaller browns the occasional DGF would glide by - one was too knackered to fly and was using the breeze to carry it, when there was a lull in the breeze it would flop down. On one of the times it dropped and the crawled through the grass to the nectar source it had missed when it belly flopped. I ended up back at the Down in the little patch of springy turf where I’d spotted my first Silver Spot. The Common Blues had either woken up or gathered here from other areas as there was now a plethora of them. I managed to count 9 in one view but there were still some behind me and on either side of me out of view. As well as these the Skippers were also well represented with plenty of Smessex, a definite Essex, another or possibly the same Dingy and a fly-by Silver Spot. As I set off three Squaddies were silhouetted in the distance as they finished their ascent of the Down and I was struck by the incongruity that this haven for wildlife had come about due to the more destructive side of human nature. However my introspective and sombre mood was suddenly lifted when I rounded the corner of the thicket. There was another Squaddie edging towards me on the other side of the scrub…
“Alright mate?” he asked.
“Yeah cheers. I’ve just seen three of your mates up on the top of the hill” I replied.
“Nice one, thanks!” And then he dove into the bush. Looks like I’d helped him avoid capture during a (serious) game of Manhunt. Chuckling about soldiers playing a ‘kids game’ and having done my good deed for the day (well I saved someone’s life) I cut back across the field and reaching the car I poured a much needed coffee. Whilst it cooled down I did too, standing in the blessed shade offered by a large Oak. Coffee drunk I decided to check a little of the wood as I had a hunch which paid out as I spotted a couple of Purple Hairstreaks up high.
On the way home I still had a little time and so popped into The Devenish for a quick progress check. I was hoping for a few Chalkhills as they’d been recorded at other sites. So I did a circuit round from the Orchid Meadow, up the first section, diagonally down the middle section and back through the tiny paddock. There were masses of Common Blues and a lovely Small Copper right at the top of the Down but no Chalkhills…Still it had been a cracking afternoon, at a cracking site, I’d gotten what I’d gone for and I’d saved someone’s life to boot! Try out a new site
Up the Down and through gold fields
Argentum micro
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel
I’d made a few trips to Shipton hoping to pick up an early Brostreak what with seeing reports from Sussex and Dorset that they were already out. However I’d drawn a blank on my visits but I had picked up some useful information about a Wiltshire site for Silver Spotted Skippers so today I set forth looking for them rather than the reticent Brostreaks. The new site was just the other side of Tidworth and it felt slightly odd driving past ‘Range F’ and not pulling in as I continued on my way there diligently following the Satnav.
At the first stop that I made I didn’t hang around as there were a load of Squaddies hiding in a barn so I didn’t want to draw attention to them hence I drove parked up at the foot of the down at the start of the ranges rather than in the middle. The track from the car was lined by Blackthorn and Hawthorn (I was thinking about Brostreaks?) and on one side there was a mature wood (Purps) and on the other a flat meadow which I strolled through to reach the foot of the down. As to be expected Meadow Browns flew up from the grasses along with a few Marbled Whites and DGFs. Hedgies made forays from the hedges and a Common Blue flitted from flower to flower in the lower level grasses along the path. Slightly unexpected but still a welcome sight was a second brood Dingy Skipper. The ground started to slope gently as I reached the foot of the down and I paused in a sheltered little spot as there seemed to be a lot going on amid the springy turf. I spotted a couple of male Common Blues having a scrap that was dizzying to watch. A Holly Blue briefly drifted down from up on high and another second brood Dingy entertained me for a bit. Then there was a lime green and gold blur. I found myself willing it to settle under my breath as I stood stock still for fear of spooking it. It ceased its buzzing and dropped, flopping down and starting to nectar. As it did so it revealed an array of white spots standing out from the lime green background. It was a Silver Spot, so job done and I hadn’t even gotten to the main spot of the site! After I’d picked up a few shots it zipped off and I tried to follow it until it eventually decided to stop toying with me and with a sudden jink to the left it just vanished. I didn’t really mind as during ‘the chase’ somehow I’d made it three quarters of the way up the steep side of the down without even noticing it! So I kept on climbing and once at the top I turned to look back across the view where I caught sight of plenty of Meadow Browns and Hedgies, a Common Blue and a DGF instead. They were all hanging out around a stretch of Bramble that lined the top of the down like a bad comb over. On along the top a clattering of Jackdaws put on an aerial display whilst the breeze tugged at my hat brim – not a good sign. So it proved to be as when I spotted my second Silver Spot the wind wrenched it away from beneath my lens not to be seen again! The breeze was starting to become somewhat of an annoyance by the time I’d reached the end of the Down. Luckily as the down tapered off gently into the surrounding fields of Oilseed Rape and wheat the thin wisps of shrubbery began to thicken and with this increased shelter the temperatures started to climb along with my opportunities for photography. Before examining the micro clearings between the thorns I checked out the demarking track way which snaked around the bottom of the down. The fact that it was a blinding white chalk track helped to highlight the contrast between the wildflowers of the down and the manicured and highly stylised topography of the cultivated land. A few scraggly plants were cling on, trying to reclaim their territory and on these a few Meadow Browns and Smessex sought succour whilst a Small Copper dazzled more than the chalk. From the bottom corner I stepped back onto the Down and worked through some of the little clearings. Again Meadow Browns abounded whilst the Hedgies held sway on the thickets and bushes. Both Peacock and Red Admiral added flashes of colour but the real reason I remained here were two Silver Spots which seemed to take it in turns to sit for me. They were in really good nick and the spots really stood out – that is when they sat in the ‘perfect pose’. Most of the time however they’d sit ¾ open like X-Wings caught half way between hyperspace and attack configurations. I didn’t mind though as this meant that I could capture the large, metallic sex brand on film; looking like a discarded strand of steel. As this was a new site I decided that I should have a look around and so I set out back to the range that I’d started at – this time though unlike the way out I worked back at about half way up the slope…on average to be honest as there was plenty of walking up and down the slope after this butterfly and that. There were another two Silver Spots and a few DGFs as well as my first Small Heath of the day. Once at the range I cut back across the top to what shall hence forth be known as the ‘Hotspot’ picking up another Silver Spot and making the most of its amicable demeanour on the way. By now it was getting ‘Mighty W’ as my dad always says and so I worked through the thickets to the foot of the Down on the ranges side and through a field of Bird’s Foot Trefoil, a Common Blues heaven as the usual green of grass was replaced with a sea of vivid custard yellow. Still dazzled by the sight I stumbled diagonally back up the Down where the Hedgies were still in great abundance, it seemed that almost every bush or piece of scrub was covered in them almost as if a crate had been upended . In amongst the smaller browns the occasional DGF would glide by - one was too knackered to fly and was using the breeze to carry it, when there was a lull in the breeze it would flop down. On one of the times it dropped and the crawled through the grass to the nectar source it had missed when it belly flopped. I ended up back at the Down in the little patch of springy turf where I’d spotted my first Silver Spot. The Common Blues had either woken up or gathered here from other areas as there was now a plethora of them. I managed to count 9 in one view but there were still some behind me and on either side of me out of view. As well as these the Skippers were also well represented with plenty of Smessex, a definite Essex, another or possibly the same Dingy and a fly-by Silver Spot. As I set off three Squaddies were silhouetted in the distance as they finished their ascent of the Down and I was struck by the incongruity that this haven for wildlife had come about due to the more destructive side of human nature. However my introspective and sombre mood was suddenly lifted when I rounded the corner of the thicket. There was another Squaddie edging towards me on the other side of the scrub…
“Alright mate?” he asked.
“Yeah cheers. I’ve just seen three of your mates up on the top of the hill” I replied.
“Nice one, thanks!” And then he dove into the bush. Looks like I’d helped him avoid capture during a (serious) game of Manhunt. Chuckling about soldiers playing a ‘kids game’ and having done my good deed for the day (well I saved someone’s life) I cut back across the field and reaching the car I poured a much needed coffee. Whilst it cooled down I did too, standing in the blessed shade offered by a large Oak. Coffee drunk I decided to check a little of the wood as I had a hunch which paid out as I spotted a couple of Purple Hairstreaks up high.
On the way home I still had a little time and so popped into The Devenish for a quick progress check. I was hoping for a few Chalkhills as they’d been recorded at other sites. So I did a circuit round from the Orchid Meadow, up the first section, diagonally down the middle section and back through the tiny paddock. There were masses of Common Blues and a lovely Small Copper right at the top of the Down but no Chalkhills…Still it had been a cracking afternoon, at a cracking site, I’d gotten what I’d gone for and I’d saved someone’s life to boot! Try out a new site
Up the Down and through gold fields
Argentum micro
Have a goodun and stay safe
Wurzel